IPL probe does not affect Team India's mood in NZ

By Bipin Dani |Posted 12-Feb-2014

The Indian team management in New Zealand preferred to keep mum over the Justice Mudgal committee report which was handed over to the Supreme Court on Monday.

“We have not seen this report and we should not comment on this. The mood in the team is excellent,” TC Mathews, the manager of the Indian team, said over phone from New Zealand. The second Test begins in Wellington on Friday.

Limited scopeThe old probe committee, which was appointed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) claimed their scope was limited in the investigation. Justice T Jayarama Chouta and Justice R Balasubramanian had exonerated Gurunath Meiyappan, the son-in-law of BCCI president N Srinivasan in the betting and spot-fixing case.

Speaking from Chennai, R Balasubramanian said, “Our scope of investigation in this matter was limited. Justice Mudgal’s committee had a wider role and they were appointed by the Supreme Court. Obviously they had more access.”

The other justice, T Jayarama Chouta, said, “We have nothing to say if Gurunath Meiyappan’s name has surfaced again. Our report was not based on any pressure from any quarter.”

Waiting for ordersMeanwhile, the Mumbai Police wants orders from above so that the lower court can expedite trial against all those accused in the IPL 6 betting and spot-fixing episode.

“There are several old cases pending in the criminal court here. Even cases from the year 2005 have not been cleared yet, so we want orders from the High Court or Supreme Court to expedite the case against the fixers,” Nandkumar Gopale, the Investigation Officer, Crime Branch said.

“We have already filed charge sheets against 22 accused. The list includes foreigners,” he added.